Vacuum-pan.



PATENTED 00T. 9, 1906, EK. l

PAN.

J. KoTL VAGU .APPLICATION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@y Imm Jjmm No, 832,677. PATENTE@ 0cm, 1906. J. K'oTLEK. ,Y VACUUM PAN. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.

Invento ,ff Jmfm nl: Nomar: PENE: cv wAsHlNnruN, n. c,

JOSEF KOSTLEK, OF PRAGUE, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

VACUUM-PAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 19,06.

Application filed April l, 1904. Serial No. 201.150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEF KOSTLEK, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vinohrady No. 1084, Prague, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Pans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vertical vacuum-pans.

Many patents have been granted on vacuum-pans fitted with movable heating-surfaces for boiling and concentrating sugarjuices in sugar-factories. (See, for instance, the expired Austrian Patent No. 32,161 and also the German Patent No. 147 ,67 5.)

Taking for granted that movable heatingsurfaces with hollow closed steam-ports, horizontal heating-tubes, and valves or cocks for steam-inlet and condensation-water outlet, which are made steam-tight by means of stuiiing-boxes, all as shown in the abovecited Austrian patent, are already known, the present invention has the purpose of totally preventing any caramelization of the sugar-juices during concentration in the process of mashing, and this effect is obtained by arranging the heating system in such a wayv that from the beginning of the process until completion of the boilingthat is, the finishing of the masse-.cuite-the fluid under treatment is he ated uniformly, regularly, and without interruption. A better draining off of the water of condensation, as well as an easier discharge of the product, and a great saving in space are also obtained.

Vacuum-pans with movable heating-surfaces, as known at present, are provided with a heating system which is arranged symmetrically around and parallel to the shaft of rotation, said shaft serving at the same time for steam inlet and outlet for the water of condensation-as, for instance, in the German Patent No. 1,47 ,675, above cited-so that the water of condensation cannot flow freely from the heating-tubes, which are situated below said shaft. This will, if the level of liquid in the pan below and said liquid covers only part of the heating-surface, always give rise to caramelization of sugar whenever the heating system is rotated. With the present invention, however, the heating-tubes will always stay in the same horizontal plane during rotation, or nearly so so that caramelization will not be possible. Moreover, the liquid under treatment is constantly being stirred during the evaporation process, and

the water of condensation can always iiow freely from the heating-tubes to the draincocks arranged underneath the heating system. i

The heating system is subdivided into a number of sections arranged above each other which, beginning from the bottom one, are heated one after the other as soon as each is covered with the liquid.

The apparatus is illustrated in the annexed drawings in two forms, Figure 1 being a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section, of the first or oscillating form of the apparatus. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the second or rotating form on the line-X X of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same form on the line Y Y of Fig. 3.

The apparatus consists of a vertical vessel l with an outlet for the material below. The oscillatory heating system is situated above the outlet-cock for the water of condensation and the steam-inlet cock and occupies the lower part ofthe said vessel l. The circulation-tube 3 is rigidly connected with the heating-chambers 4 and 5, and the latter with the hollow horizontal oscillating trunnions 9 11, which are packed by means of .stuiiing-boxes and are arranged concentric to the horizontal axis of the apparatus. The heating-chambers 4 and 5 are divided into subchambers by the partitions 6, 7, and 8. A steam-valve 10 is arranged in the partitionwall 7 and can be operated from the outside of the oscillating trunnion during oscillation by means of suitable valve-rods, as shown. The chambers 4 and- 5 are on each side connected with a number of horizontal heating or steam tubes which have the form of semicircles, Figs. l and 2.

The steam-supply is beneath the vacuumpan and steam is admitted into the hollow steam-tight oscillating trunnion 9 through the inlet 2, passing therefrom into the heatingtubes of the lower compartmentl of chamber 4.' By means of heating-coils (shown in the drawings) the steam is conducted to the lower compartment of chamber 5 and passes herefrom into the second or middle section of ychamber 5 whenever valve 10 is opened.

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course or line of advancement or progress of the steam has been changed three times, two passages from right to left and onefrom left tol right having been caused. With every change of direction or line of progress of the steam water of condensation is withdrawn. At the end of the first horizontal movementthat is, the motion from right to left in leaving chamber 4 and entering the lower compartment of chamber 5-the hollow cock 11 serves to withdraw the condenser-water. The water of condensation resulting from the second movement-the one from the middle compartment of chamber 5 to the uppermost one of chamber 4-is withdrawn by means of canal 12 and tube 13, while at the end of the third horizontal movement, the last one from right to left, both canal 14 and tube 15 serve to draw off the condensed water.

It will be apparent that a multiplicity of changes of direction or changes inthe line of progress of the steam may be secured and that this feature is entirely dependent upon the number of compartments into which chambers 4 and 5 are subdivided. The essential feature of a number of compartments greater than the number shown in the drawings would necessarily be that of having one less compartment in chamber 4 than there are compartments in chamber 5. It will also be obvious that should a multiplicity of compartments lbe employed, the second, fourth, and sixth, and so on, dividing wall or partition of chamber 4 would need to be equipped with valves, (herein designated as 10,) while compartment 5 would require such equipment on the first, third, fifth, and so on, partition or wall.

Dependent upon the number of grains, the size of the final sugar crystals desired, the viscosity of the stock to be boiled, and numerous other infiuences there is drawn into any vacuum boiling apparatus a relatively large or small initial charge of the material to be boiled. These are matters usually left to the discretion and judgment of the sugar boiler. However, it is a general practice to draw into the vaccum boiling device an amount of liquor sufficient to submerge the lower heating-coils of such appliance, for which reason it would be advisable in the use of the herein-described apparatus to ll the opened and the upper part of the heating system will also become heated by the steam.

During the process of evaporation the aptimes during this course.

paratus is by means of' mechanical force given an oscillatory motion, swinging upon the hollow trunnions 9 and 11, Figs. 1 and 2,

or a rotating motion around the rotating trunnion 17, Figs. 3 and 4, which is likewise Tby horizontal heating-tubes which run parallel to each other-fi. e., which vare nearly straight or are only slightly bent or curved. The steam is here likewise introduced by means of the inlet 2 into the hollow rotating trunnion 17, Fig. 3. It enters the heatingtubes of the lower section of chamber 4 through the steam-passage 18, then goes through said heating-tubes to the lower part `of chamber 5, thereupon rises through the opened valve 10, Fig. 3, entering the middle `section of chamber 5, then passes throughv the heating-tubes to the upper section of chamber 4, and there through the uppermost row of heating-tubes to the upper part of chamber 5, changing its direction several Just as described with the first form, the water of condensation is drawn off at the bottom at every change in the direction of the steam, this being eected here by the canals 19, 20, and 21 and by the central tube 22 for the discharge of the condensation-water. The outlet for the water of condensation must always be at the bottom. The steam-inlet is also below, (when using a single hollow rotating trunnion 17 1 but can also be arranged at the top when two of these hollow trunnions 17 are used, which must both have their axes coincident with the axis of rotation of the apparatus, one being abovefand the other below the same.

Above the heating apparatus and arranged on the shaft or spindle 25 is located a mixing a paratus 23 and 24, which device is to serve t Le purpose of thoroughly mixing the material above the heating system.

In the construction of apparatus as hereinbefore indicated care must be taken to provide for a quick and easy discharge of the masse-cuite-that is, the boiled material. Furthermore, the easy removal or insertion of heating-tubes must be arranged for.

An apparatus built upon the plan of that hereinbefore described may be employed to provide for a thorough mixing of the material or masse-cuite after the same has been discharged from the vacuum-pan. In this case cooling-water is admitted to the oscillatory or rotating system, as the case may be, the same taking the place of steam.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a vacuum-pan, of a non-scorching heating system movably mounted therein, said system comprising su- IOC) perposed sets of heating-coils, each set being intersected by `ingress and egress compartments, the egress-compartment of one set delivering to the ingress-compartment of the next adjacent set, and valves for said egress and ingress compartments for controlling the advance of steam beyond any desired compartment.

2. The combinationof a vacuum-pan, of a nonscorching heating system movably mounted therein, said system comprising superposed sets of heating-coils, each set being intersected by ingress and egress compartments, the egress-compartment of one set delivering to the ingress-compartment of the next adjacent set, valves for said egress and ingress compartments whereby the advance of steam beyond any desired egress or ingress compartment may be controlled, and suitable conduits in direct communication with said egress and ingress compartments whereby water of condensation may be withdrawn from said compartments.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEF KOTLEK.

Witnesses ADOLPH FISCHER, LADISLAR VOJIEK. 

